Courtesy: ESPN
North Dakota State University and Eastern Washington will compete for the FCS College Football Championship this weekend, and ESPN will have full coverage of the game.
The network announced in a news release sent Wednesday, that the game will be played Saturday in Frisco, Texas. Coverage is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. with FCS Championship Game Preview on ESPNEWS. Gametime coverage is scheduled to start at noon on ESPN2 and the ESPN app. A Spanish-language broadcast will air on ESPN3.
North Dakota State is undefeated coming into Saturday’s FCS Championship match, and will look to defend its 2017 title. If the Bison win the title this year, it will be the team’s seventh title in eight years. For Eastern Washington, a title win would be the team’s first since 2010.
NDSU is led by Walter Payton Award Finalist, quarterback Easton Stick, running back Bruce Anderson and linebacker Jabril Cox. Head Coach Chris Klieman is in his final season with the Bison, and will take over the head coaching position at Kansas State starting in the 2019 season. Klieman holds a 68-6 record during his time at the helm of NDSU’s football program.
The Walter Payton Award — named after NFL great and former Jackson State University standong Walter Payton — is presented annually to the FCS’ top offensive player. It is voted on by a national panel of media and college sports information directors.
The Eagles are led by quarterback Eric Barriere and an offense that is ranked third in the nation in yards per play and a defense that is second in turnovers. This is Head Coach Aaron Best’s first season leading Eastern Washington, after spending more than 20 years with the team, four of which were as a player.
More than a year has past since the Bison and Eagles met on the gridiron. The last time the teams met was Sept. 9, 2017 at Roos Field in Cheney, WA. North Dakota State University won that match 41-3.
Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Kris Budden will have the call for Saturday’s FCS Championship game. Budden will anchor the game’s pre-game broadcast and will be joined by analysts Rene and Jay Walker for additional commentary.
University of California Davis Head Coach and former ESPN analyst Dan Hawkins will be a special guest on the pre-game broadcast. Hawkins led the Aggies to a 10-win season this year. Those wins included seven conference victories — both stats are new school records.
As a result of his success this year, Hawkins was named the Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year this season. The Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year Award — named for legendary Grambling State University coach Eddie Robinson — is presented to the FCS’ top Head Coach. It was established by Stats, LLC. the award is voted on by a select group of information directors and sports writers from the FCS.
More information on this weekend’s FCS Championship Game is available online now along with all of the latest college football headlines at:
Website: http://www.espn.com/college-football
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CFBonESPN
Twitter: http://twitter.com/espncfb
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
philspicks 